Chamber and committees

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I think that some members are having a wee bit of difficulty in hearing you clearly. Perhaps we can make some technical adjustments. If that is not possible, we will have to soldier on. Please bear with me for a minute.

I have been advised that broadcasting is trying to improve communications but that we should plough on in the meantime. I hope that you will be able to hear me, cabinet secretary. I will try to enunciate and to not sound as west of Scotland as I normally do in asking these questions, you being a poshie and all that. [Laughter.] You will probably be able to translate what Daniel Johnson is saying much more clearly than I could.

Congratulations, Daniel, and welcome aboard.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

Thank you very much, John.

I welcome everyone to the Finance and Public Administration Committee. We see from the papers that have already been distributed that it is going to be a very challenging year and, indeed, that it is going to be a very challenging five years, but I am sure that everyone is ready for the tasks ahead. We have a small but perfectly formed committee, and I am sure that we will all be able to work very well together for the good of the Parliament and the people whom we represent.

Item 3 is to choose the deputy convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Labour Party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener of the committee. Therefore, I nominate Daniel Johnson as our deputy convener.

Daniel Johnson was chosen as deputy convener.

Item 4 is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take item 5 in private? If anybody disagrees, they should type N in the chat box.

We agree to take item 5 in private.

I put on record my thanks to the Finance and Constitution Committee for its legacy report in session 5, which is very detailed. I am sure that everyone has looked at it, and I know that it will be very helpful to us over the coming months in considering our future work programme.

We will now go into private session for the remainder of the meeting.